Information Technology Specialist (Cloud Engineer)

Summary

Help power the technology behind America's innovation system. Join the USPTO's Office of the Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Infrastructure Delivery Office, and Cloud and Network Services Division to support the secure, reliable, and innovative infrastructure that enables the agency's mission. You will work alongside professionals responsible for cloud and network services, engineering platforms, systems architecture, storage, firewalls, and other critical technology capabilities.

Duties

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The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per leave year.

This is a key role position for you if you...

GS-09

• Strive to join a mission-focused team and help shape the future of cloud and SI capabilities, assist management on plans for efficient cloud storage, lifecycle management, operational support, and AI enablement.
• Enjoy working with a technology team, participating with higher level managers in the creation of strategic plans for the development, revision, and management of cloud platforms, as well as the provision of cloud tenant support.
• Play a key role in advancing reliable and mission-focused cloud solutions, assists with the development and maintenance of cloud platform solutions that meet requirements and mission needs.
• Help promote secure, compliant, and effective cloud operations, assist in the deployment, implementation, and monitoring of cloud-based products to help ensure continuity, availability, and secure operation.
• Strengthen cloud capabilities across the organization, supporting and monitoring activities that help availability of cloud services.

GS-11

• Want to build hands-on experience with enterprise cloud technologies and mission-focused solutions, provide technical support for cloud services and architectures and assist in cloud-based projects from planning through completion, gaining hands-on experience with enterprise cloud technologies and mission-focused solutions.
• Are interested in helping deliver efficient, reliable, and secure cloud operations, supporting cloud storage, lifecycle management, operational support, and related cloud service activities under the guidance of higher-level staff, helping promote efficient, reliable, and secure cloud operations.
• Enjoy contributing to the delivery and continued improvement of cloud capabilities, assist in implementing cloud platform plans and supporting cloud tenant operations, contributing to the delivery and continued improvement of cloud capabilities.
• Value well-governed, consistent, and well-managed cloud services, support cloud governance processes by applying established policies, procedures, and standards to cloud service activities, helping to ensure consistent and well-managed cloud operations.
• Enjoy working with cloud service providers and supporting day-to-day technology operations. Coordinate with cloud service providers as needed to support service implementation and routine operational needs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Applications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• Suitable for Federal Employment
• Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at Competency-Based Qualification Standard for the Information Technology Management Series, 2210.

Specialized Experienceis experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.

GS-09: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-07. The specialized experience for this position includes:

1. Experience supporting the development, deployment, configuration, monitoring, or troubleshooting of cloud applications and services, such as AWS compute, storage, databases, or serverless services; AND

2. Experience providing programming, scripting, automation, infrastructure-as-code, or CI/CD tools to support cloud operations, such as Python, Java, React, Terraform, CloudFormation, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins; AND

3. Experience applying established cloud security, governance, and operational procedures, such as access controls, configuration standards, change management, and system monitoring.

GS-11: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-09. The specialized experience for this position includes:

1. Experience compiling business and technical requirements from stakeholders, development of AWS cloud solutions, while supporting cloud-based services and data-driven mission requirements such as Python, Java, React, Terraform, CloudFormation, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins; AND

2. Experience providing technical support for cloud services, architecture, and related projects, such as cloud migrations, application deployments, infrastructure implementations, or system integrations; AND

3. Experience applying cloud security, governance, and operational requirements, such as identity and access management, vulnerability remediation, compliance controls, configuration baselines, and incident-response procedures.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level.

Additional information

Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement unless eligible for special hiring authority, reinstatement eligible, non-current Federal employee applying as a VEOA eligible which do not require time-in-grade/band.

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position.

This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "moderate".

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued.

All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.